Child dies after deserted mortar shell explodes in Bandarban

A 12-year-old boy died after a deserted mortar shell exploded at a border area in Naikkhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Tuesday noon.

The victim, Satnaing Tanchanga, was originally a Myanmar citizen and his family fled to Bangladeshi territory five-six years ago during the raging civil war in their home country.

Naikkhongchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haque said legal measures will be taken following an autopsy of the body.

It is worth noting that last week three Bangladeshi farmers died from a land mine explosion in the nearby Bhalukia area. Two other Bangladeshis remain missing in a separate incident after going for farming in the same area.

The latest victim’s family lived at Baishfari Pacchim Para area under Ward No 3 in Ghumdhum Union of the upazila.

The father Kinghla Tanchanga, along with the family, had fled to Bangladesh from the Medai village under Mungdow township in Myanmar five-six years ago, and took shelter at a relative’s home in Baishfari area.

On Tuesday morning, the family left the home to take part in shifting cultivation in the hilly area about 100 yards away from the “no man’s land.” At one point, Satnaing found an iron-made item in the field, and started playing with it, not knowing that it was a deserted mortar shell.

At one point, the shell exploded tearing the child’s body into pieces. Locals picked up some of the pieces and brought it back to the locality.

Upon being informed, police took the body into custody.